Chuks Okocha, Sunday Aborisade in Abuja, John Shiklam in Kaduna, Francis Sardauna in Katsina and Laleye Dipo in Minna
The Senate has donated N109 million to victims of the drone bombing in Tudun Biri community, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, as part of efforts to provide relief for people affected by the incident.
As reactions mount following the military bombing of civilians on December 4, which the Defence Headquarters claimed was a mistake, Labour Party (LP) called on the federal government to publish names of the dead from the incident and ensure that their families were well compensated.
But the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) lambasted Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Abdul’aziz Yar’Adua, over his comments on the incident, in which he claimed the attack was in error.
In a related development, the senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, Sani Musa, hailed the killing of one of the dreaded bandit kingpins in the area, Yellow Jabros, by the special military operation in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau announced the senate donation yesterday at Government House, Kaduna, when he led a delegation of principal officers of the upper chamber to condole with Governor Uba Sani.
Barau said each of the 109 senators would contribute N1 million from their salaries for the donation, adding that the money would be sent to the governor for onward distribution to the victims. He said the senate was sad about the incident and prayed for the repose of the souls of the victims while wishing those injured speedy recovery.
He said the senate president, Godswill Akpabio, sent the delegation to sympathise with the government and people of Kaduna State.
Responding, Sani thanked the senators for the support and appreciated the level of empathy Nigerians had shown to victims of the incident.
Condemning attempts by some people to introduce ethnic and religious sentiments into the bombing, Sani said, “In the last few days, some people have been trying to make the incident look as if it is either ethnic or religious issue.
“Here in Kaduna, we are one family. There is no difference between Muslims and Christians, this incident can happen anywhere in Nigeria. What we are asking for is justice for the people of Tudun Biri, who lost their lives and those in the hospital.”
LP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, expressed worry that bombing a target without precision and intelligence was anachronistic and difficult to imagine in modern warfare.
The party said the military must assure Nigerians that such nihilistic approach to combat, capable of destroying unintended targets, would be properly reviewed.
LP said the federal and state governments must ensure adequate compensation for the victims.
Similarly, while addressing journalists in Katsina, yesterday, Coordinator of CNG in the state, Habibu Ruma, said Yar’Adua lacked compassion, pity, and empathy towards the bereaved families and the affected community.
Yar’Adua had in an interview with a national television described the drone attack as an honest mistake that should not warrant the resignation of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.
The group explained that by trivialising the incident, the senator representing Katsina Central had shrugged off the pain and trauma experienced by the victims and their families. It said Yar’Adua should have been at the forefront to demand an all-embracing investigation to unravel and bring to justice those responsible for the “heinous act.”
On his part, Musa, in a statement, described the termination of the life of the dreaded bandit as “a positive step in the fight against terrorism and banditry in my senatorial zone and Niger state as a whole”.
Yellow Jabros was said to be among the 50 terrorists killed by the air component of the special task force last week in a boat as they tried to escape from the ground operation. His body and those of other bandits were said to have been recovered from the river a day after the incident.
The army headquarters confirmed his death and some of his group members and said the bandit lord had underestimated the capabilities of the taskforce and assumed a suspension in airstrikes as a result of the sad incident that occurred in Kaduna.
Musa stated, “I use this forum to commend men of the special task force for this wonderful performance, your exploit will no doubt bring respite to people of my senatorial zone, especially, those in Shiroro Local Government Area, who have been under the threat of this dreaded bandit and his men for more than two years.”
